Leaky cups

We have used the Munchkin straw cups for about 12 months now and the Playtex sippy cups for about 9 months. I feel like they are leakier than before (my mom and DH have mentioned the same thing to me). All the kids have to do is turn them upside down and shake a bit and lots of liquid comes out.

Do the valves wear out? Has anyone else had this experience? I was hoping to not have to buy new cups, but maybe it's inevitable.

Also, until what age do most kids use straw and sippy cups?

 

I find that the Munchkin straw cups tend to get liquid stuck in the top of the straw and that what causes our leaks. It's possible that the valves are wearing down and you can buy replacement straws through Munchkin's online store.
Mine are 32 months and they are still using sippy cups...I'm not ready to deal with the mess that comes with regular cups :blush:

 

We just started using "real" cups. Only at the table though because they tend to hold on to them and then swing them around like they would with their straw cups. It's getting better though. We use the Munchkin straw cups and I think I read that you're supposed to replace the valves after a few months. Yes, they do start to wear down on the inside from liquid, cleaning. Our cups do the same exact thing, so I taught them not to turn their cups upside down and place them on a surface correctly so liquid doesn't get everywhere and that has been going really well. Good luck!

 

The valves do wear out, I think you can buy replacements for the playtex sippies though, I know I could w the gerber ones.

 

Yes the valves wear out and yes you can replace most brands. You can get playtex valves anywhere that sells playtex cups usually. Not sure about the munchkin ones.

I used the straw sippies with my older kids until they were about 3-3.5 yrs old, by that time it was just when we went somewhere. In the summer in SC it's essential to have something to drink with us all the time. I started using big kid cups with them around age 2.5 or so, at the dining room table only.

My dd is turning 4 this weekend and for about the last 6 months I'll leave her a cup of juice on the counter to drink during the day, and we don't take a sippy with us anymore she drinks from a water bottle or something similar.